Sophie Devine. (Photo Source: BCCI Women)
New Zealand captain Sophie Devine‘s brain-fade moment cost her wicket in the first ODI against India at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The incident happened off the final ball of the 12th over when the cricketer played a forward defence and looked straight into the eyes of bowler Deepti Sharma. Interestingly, Deepti was composed as she collected the ball and threw it to keeper Yastika Bhatia, who dislodged the stumps.
Devine for the entire time didn’t realise what happened. The leg-umpire decided to go upstairs for a check and when it was shown on the big screen, it was clear that the New Zealand international was slightly short of the crease. A lapse in concentration led to her departure for only two runs as the White Ferns lost their third wicket for 46 runs.
Sharp presence of mind produces a big wicket!👌👌
New Zealand lose their third in the chase as Sophie Devine is run-out.
Live – https://t.co/VGGT7lSS13#TeamIndia | #INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/gvANXADVkA
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) October 24, 2024
Meanwhile batting first, India posted 227 runs on the board. Opener Smriti Mandhana once again had a tough outing, scoring only five runs while her partner Shafali Verma made 33 runs off 22 balls. Batting at number three, Yastika scored 37 runs. After that, India struggled for a brief while before the middle order took over.
Jemimah Rodrigues made 35 runs while debutant Tejal Hasabnis scored 42 runs. She replaced captain Harmanpreet Kaur in the playing XI, who had to sit out following a niggle, as confirmed by BCCI. Deepti, on the other hand, had a decent outing with the bat as well, scoring 41 runs. However, the hosts needed someone to step up with a big score but none of the batters were able to do that.
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For New Zealand, Amelia Kerr picked up four wickets. She was the star of the team in the women’s T20 World Cup and proved her value in the first ODI as well. Jess Kerr meanwhile picked up a three-wicket haul.